Uijeongbu City Achieves "Zero" Confined Space Accidents at Public Sewage Treatment Facilities

Systematic Safety Training and Rigorous Management
Ensuring On-site Safety and Reducing Social Costs

Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Donggeun) has achieved "Zero" safety accidents in confined spaces by continuously implementing systematic safety education and a field-centered safety management system to prevent potential safety accidents during the operation of public sewage treatment facilities. This achievement has not only ensured stable facility operations but has also contributed to reducing social costs.

Uijeongbu City (Mayor Kim Donggeun) has achieved "Zero" safety accidents in confined spaces by continuously operating systematic safety education and field-centered safety management systems to prevent safety accidents that may occur during the operation of public sewage treatment facilities. Photo by Uijeongbu City

Sewage treatment facilities are inherently hazardous due to confined space work and the potential generation of toxic gases. In the event of an accident, this can lead to not only casualties but also significant social costs, including medical expenses, compensation, facility restoration costs, and administrative and societal losses.

In response, the city has made accident prevention its top priority and has established a safety management system focused on preemptive risk mitigation.

The city systematically conducts regular safety training for confined space work, measures gas concentration and provides ventilation before work begins, strictly enforces the confined space work permit system, and carries out emergency response drills.

Through these measures, a culture of on-site safety has taken root, enabling workers to recognize and respond to risks independently. As a result, there have been no major or minor accidents in public sewage treatment facilities in recent years.

This accomplishment goes beyond simply ensuring on-site safety. It has led to tangible reductions in social costs by decreasing expenses related to industrial accident management, preventing facility shutdowns, and minimizing administrative and societal losses. Furthermore, as worker safety is reliably secured, both work efficiency and the continuity of facility operations have improved.

An official from Uijeongbu City stated, "Prevention is more important than post-accident response when it comes to safety accidents," adding, "We will continue to maintain and inspect our field-centered safety management system for all environmental infrastructure facilities, including public sewage treatment facilities, to enhance accident prevention and operational stability."

Uijeongbu City plans to maintain its "Zero" confined space accident record and will continue to review and enhance its on-site safety management system to ensure the safe and stable operation of public sewage treatment facilities.